When to Pull Them

AlittleSalt · June 12, 2016

I know I have written a lot about what is going on with all the rain and the plants being stunted - etc.. I got up early to look at the plants, and realized, if I cut off any more yellow leaves - there won't be any left...or not many. So instead of pruning and hoping they will grow out of it - I took pictures with this thread in mind. The pictures actually make the cherry tomato plants look better than they actually look.

First the stunted plants. Bumblebees, Ambrosias, others. They are between 2 and 3' tall at best, and were planted out back in early March.

The last picture is what I think they should look like - the last picture is Porter.

What would you do with these plants?

Tracydr · June 12, 2016

I'd give them a good feeding of kelp/fish emulsion as well as a foliar spray of kelp/neem oil. They look like they may recover if they get a break. All that rain probably depleted your fertilizer.

SueCT · June 12, 2016

I would not have picked off the yellow leaves. I only remove leaves that are diseased or dried up. I would give the yellow leaves a chance to green up again with less water and more sun and nitrogen if needed. I might replace a few if you can still find large plants in pots to purchase locally, but if not, and its too late in your season to start over, what do you have to loose by leaving them in place and seeing if they recover?

AlittleSalt · June 12, 2016

The forecast is for rain today. I haven't watered since April.

I did start seeds in a 36 cell tray yesterday to attempt growing a fall garden. Some are cherry tomatoes that will replace at least some of these in the 34' long raised bed.

I have been spraying the bleach/soap water on them and using Daconil, but the leaves keep yellowing and there are some plants out in the main garden that do have dried up leaves that I remove daily.

Below are pictures of a plant that I'm hoping you all can look at and say, "That is ____"

Labradors2 · June 12, 2016

The root looks humungous! I guess the rest of it simply rotted!

Your plot looked so nice from your pictures. The only thing that you forgot to add was a cover over the top to keep all the darned rain out!

Sorry that you are having such a difficult time with your plants.....

Linda

decherdt · June 12, 2016

I saw those Fat roots and it might not be textbook classic, but I still thought RKN. I been wanting to pull up a plant for other reasons so I forked up a cherry tom root ball, here is a pic. It was planted out on 2/27. If yours is RKN, they will get worse in the Fall, might want to start some Big Beef and Celebrity. I been growing resistant stuff like Elbon Rye, blackeye peas in the tomato patch, between tomatoes seasons, seems to work OK.

Labradors2 · June 12, 2016

Just in case it is Root Knot Nematodes, I found this interesting website. Do I see Marigolds in your future garden?

http://blackgold.bz/mighty-marigolds...nic-gardening/

Linda

ginger2778 · June 12, 2016

Robert, its RKNs. Bad infestation. They are done. Better solarize if you are going to use those beds again. They are the reason I garden in earthboxes.

AlittleSalt · June 12, 2016

It is in my main 45'x45' garden. RKN

It's no wonder that everything I was doing didn't work.

AlittleSalt · June 12, 2016

More roots pictures. I've only very briefly read about RKN. Something new to learn.

AlittleSalt · June 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Robert, its RKNs. Bad infestation. They are done. Better solarize if you are going to use those beds again. They are the reason I garden in earthboxes.

Marsha, I'm reading about root knot nematodes, and without any doubt - that is what is happening in our main garden. The sudden wilting, the yellow leaves, stunted plants, a healthy looking plant producing lots of tomatoes beside ones that look awful.

I have a lot of marigold plants flowering in a flowerbed. I'll be saving all the seeds I can. Now, I'm about to read about solarization.

Worth1 · June 12, 2016

Other than the RKN which is obvious If I were you and I should have said this some time ago.
All of that mulch needs to be racked back from the plants with the heavy rains we have had.
It is smothering them and holding in too much moisture.
Wet sand is RKN heaven.

Worth

My Foot Smells · June 12, 2016

Does it matter that it was a mild winter w rkn? Seems I only see deep south w infestation. Not familiar w the tode myself, but was thinking about doing the solarization thingy.

My Foot Smells · June 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labradors2

Just in case it is Root Knot Nematodes, I found this interesting website. Do I see Marigolds in your future garden?

http://blackgold.bz/mighty-marigolds...nic-gardening/

Linda

Interesting. I do plant marigolds but thought all the talk was wife tale. I use them as a watering gauge.

Worth1 · June 12, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by My Foot Smells

Does it matter that it was a mild winter w rkn? Seems I only see deep south w infestation. Not familiar w the tode myself, but was thinking about doing the solarization thingy.

It matters a lot from what I have read.
Heck I had stink bugs all winter long.
I found one on my plants in the house.

One of the best things you can do to alleviate the nematodes is to put as much organic matter in the soil as it can stand.
This helps break up their ability to move in the soil.

Worth

June 12, 2016	#2
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I'd give them a good feeding of kelp/fish emulsion as well as a foliar spray of kelp/neem oil. They look like they may recover if they get a break. All that rain probably depleted your fertilizer.

June 12, 2016	#3
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	I would not have picked off the yellow leaves. I only remove leaves that are diseased or dried up. I would give the yellow leaves a chance to green up again with less water and more sun and nitrogen if needed. I might replace a few if you can still find large plants in pots to purchase locally, but if not, and its too late in your season to start over, what do you have to loose by leaving them in place and seeing if they recover?

June 12, 2016	#5
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	The root looks humungous! I guess the rest of it simply rotted! Your plot looked so nice from your pictures. The only thing that you forgot to add was a cover over the top to keep all the darned rain out! Sorry that you are having such a difficult time with your plants..... Linda

June 12, 2016	#8
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Robert, its RKNs. Bad infestation. They are done. Better solarize if you are going to use those beds again. They are the reason I garden in earthboxes.

June 12, 2016	#9
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	It is in my main 45'x45' garden. RKN It's no wonder that everything I was doing didn't work.

June 12, 2016	#12
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Other than the RKN which is obvious If I were you and I should have said this some time ago. All of that mulch needs to be racked back from the plants with the heavy rains we have had. It is smothering them and holding in too much moisture. Wet sand is RKN heaven. Worth

June 12, 2016	#13
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	Does it matter that it was a mild winter w rkn? Seems I only see deep south w infestation. Not familiar w the tode myself, but was thinking about doing the solarization thingy.